Diamond films grown from fullerene precursors

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) techniques are applied to study the microstructure of diamond films grown from fullerene precursors. Electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectra (EELS) collected from the diamond films correspond to that of bulk diamond. Microdiffraction, high resolution images and EELS help determine that the first diamond grains that nucleate from fullerene precursors generally form on a thin amorphous carbon interlayer and seldom directly on the silicon substrate. Grain size measurements reveal nanocrystalline diamond grains. Cross section TEM images show that the nanocrystalline diamond grains are equiaxed and not columnar nor dendritic. The microstructure of small equiaxed grains throughout the film thickness is believed responsible for the very smooth surfaces of diamond films grown from fullerene precursors

Grain boundaries and grain size distributions in nanocrystalline diamond films derived from fullerene precursors

Film growth from C{sub 60}/Ar mixtures results in very pure diamond. Diamond films grown using C{sub 60} as a carbon source have been shown to be nanocrystalline with average grain sizes of 15 nm and standard deviations of 13 nm. The measured grain size distribution for two separate films, each based on measurements of over 400 grains, were found to be very similar and well approximated by a gamma distribution. Unlike typical CVD grown diamond films, these nanocrystalline films do not exhibit columnar growth. From the measured grain size distributions, it is estimated that 2% of the carbon atoms are located in the grain boundaries. The structure of the carbon in the grain boundaries is not known, but the films survive extended wear tests and hold together when the substrate is removed, indicating that the grains are strongly bound. The grain boundary carbon may give rise to additional features in the Raman spectrum and result in absorption and scattering of light in the films. We also expect that the grain boundary carbon may affect film properties, such as electrical and thermal conductivity

Friction and wear properties of smooth diamond films grown in fullerene-argon plasmas

In this study, we describe the growth mechanism and the ultralow friction and wear properties of smooth (20-50 nm rms) diamond films grown in a microwave plasma consisting of Ar and fullerene (the carbon source). The sliding friction coefficients of these films against Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} balls are 0.04 and 0.1 in dry N{sub 2} and air, which are comparable to that of natural diamond sliding against the same pin material, but is lower by factors of 5 to 10 than that afforded by rough diamond films grown in conventional H{sub 2}-CH{sub 4} plasmas. Furthermore, the smooth diamond films produced in this work afforded wear rates to Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} balls that were two to three orders of magnitude lower than those of H{sub 2}-CH{sub 4} grown films. Mechanistically, the ultralow friction and wear properties of the fullerene-derived diamond films correlate well with their initially smooth surface finish and their ability to polish even further during sliding. The wear tracks reach an ultrasmooth (3-6 nm rms) surface finish that results in very little abrasion and ploughing. The nanocrystalline microstructure and exceptionally pure sp{sup 3} bonding in these smooth diamond films were verified by numerous surface and structure analytical methods, including x-ray diffraction, high-resolution AF-S, EELS, NEXAFS, SEM, and TEM. An AFM instrument was used to characterize the topography of the films and rubbing surfaces

Growth of (110) Diamond using pure Dicarbon

We use a density-functional based tight-binding method to study diamond growth steps by depositing dicarbon species onto a hydrogen-free diamond (110) surface. Subsequent C_2 molecules are deposited on an initially clean surface, in the vicinity of a growing adsorbate cluster, and finally, near vacancies just before completion of a full new monolayer. The preferred growth stages arise from C_2n clusters in near ideal lattice positions forming zigzag chains running along the [-110] direction parallel to the surface. The adsorption energies are consistently exothermic by 8--10 eV per C_2, depending on the size of the cluster. The deposition barriers for these processes are in the range of 0.0--0.6 eV. For deposition sites above C_2n clusters the adsorption energies are smaller by 3 eV, but diffusion to more stable positions is feasible. We also perform simulations of the diffusion of C_2 molecules on the surface in the vicinity of existing adsorbate clusters using an augmented Lagrangian penalty method. We find migration barriers in excess of 3 eV on the clean surface, and 0.6--1.0 eV on top of graphene-like adsorbates. The barrier heights and pathways indicate that the growth from gaseous dicarbons proceeds either by direct adsorption onto clean sites or after migration on top of the existing C_2n chains.Comment: 8 Pages, 7 figure

A model for predicting grain boundary cracking in polycrystalline viscoplastic materials including scale effects

A model is developed herein for predicting the mechanical response of inelastic crystalline solids. Particular emphasis is given to the development of microstructural damage along grain boundaries, and the interaction of this damage with intragranular inelasticity caused by dislocation dissipation mechanisms. The model is developed within the concepts of continuum mechanics, with special emphasis on the development of internal boundaries in the continuum by utilizing a cohesive zone model based on fracture mechanics. In addition, the crystalline grains are assumed to be characterized by nonlinear viscoplastic mechanical material behavior in order to account for dislocation generation and migration. Due to the nonlinearities introduced by the crack growth and viscoplastic constitution, a numerical algorithm is utilized to solve representative problems. Implementation of the model to a finite element computational algorithm is therefore briefly described. Finally, sample calculations are presented for a polycrystalline titanium alloy with particular focus on effects of scale on the predicted response

In situ surface roughness measurement during PECVD diamond film growth

To investigate the development of surface morphology and bulk optical attenuation in diamond films, we have followed diamond film growth on silicon by in-situ laser reflection interferometry in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition system. A model for the interpretation of the reflectivity data in terms of film thickness, rms surface roughness and bulk losses due to scattering and absorption is presented. Results are compared with ex situ measurements of these quantities and found to be in good agreement

TEM study of diamond films grown from fullerene precursors

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) techniques are applied to study the microstructure of diamond films grown from fullerene precursors. Electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectra (EELS) collected from the diamond films correspond to that of bulk diamond. Microdiffraction, high resolution images and EELS help determine that the first diamond grains that nucleate from fullerene precursors generally form on a thin amorphous carbon interlayer and seldom directly on the silicon substrate. Grain size measurements reveal nanocrystalline diamond grains. Cross section TEM images show that the nanocrystalline diamond grains are equiaxed and not columnar nor dendritic. The microstructure of small equiaxed grains throughout the film thickness is believed responsible for the very smooth surfaces of diamond films grown from fullerene precursors

Genomics and the Public Health Code of Ethics

We consider the public health applications of genomic technologies as viewed through the lens of the public health code of ethics. We note, for example, the potential for genomics to increase our appreciation for the public health value of interdependence, the potential for some genomic tools to exacerbate health disparities because of their inaccessibility by the poor and the way in which genomics forces public health to refine its notions of prevention. The public health code of ethics sheds light on concerns raised by commercial genomic products that are not discussed in detail by more clinically oriented perspectives. In addition, the concerns raised by genomics highlight areas of our understanding of the ethical principles of public health in which further refinement may be necessary

Multiple-dose clinical pharmacology of ACT-541468, a novel dual orexin receptor antagonist, following repeated-dose morning and evening administration

ACT-541468 is a dual orexin receptor antagonist with sleep-promoting effects in humans. Following entry-into-humans, its pharmacokinetics (PK) including dose-proportionality and accumulation, pharmacodynamics (PD), safety, and tolerability following multiple-ascending oral dose (MAD) administration in the morning, and next-day residual effects after repeated evening administration were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. 31 healthy male and female subjects in 3 dose-groups (10, 25, and 75 mg) received study drug in the morning for 5 days (MAD part), and 20 healthy subjects received 25 mg in the evening for 1 week (evening part). PK, PD (saccadic peak velocity (SPV), adaptive tracking, body sway, Bond and Lader visual analogue scales (VAS), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), VAS Bowdle for assessment of psychedelic effects), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Simple Reaction Time Test (SRTT), safety, and tolerability were assessed. ACT-541468 was absorbed with a median t(max) of 1.0-2.0 h across the 3 dose groups. The geometric mean elimination half-life (t(1/2)) on Day 5 was between 5.6 and 8.5 h, and the exposure (area under the curve (AUC)) showed dose proportionality. No accumulation and no influence of sex on the multiple-dose PK parameters of ACT-541468 was observed. No effects were observed at 10 mg. Administration of 25 and 75 mg during the day showed clear dose-dependent effects on the PD parameters, while next-day effects were absent after evening administration of 25 mg. The drug was safe and well tolerated. In conclusion, multiple-dose PK/PD of ACT-541468 were compatible with a drug designated to treat insomnia. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.Stress-related psychiatric disorders across the life spa